oil burner system



Ali 25, 1925. 1,551;519

F. STRElCH ET- AL OIL BURNER SYSTEM Filed June 28, 1924 '7 Sheets-Sheet1 84 Q '3? *1 Q?) Q Ell/ .7710715; flank Jjreich Z Aug. 25, 1925.1,551,519

F. STREICH ET AL v OIL BURNER SYSTEM Filed June 28, 1924 '7 Sheets-Sheet2 Aug. 25, 1925. 1,551,519

F. STREICH ET AL OIL BURNER SYSTEM Filed June SL924 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Zfijzrez'ch,

'Aiig. 25, 1925. 1 5

, F. STREICH ET AL OIL BURNER SYSTEM Filed June 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet 4Aug. ,25, 1925. 1,551,519

F. STREICH ET AL OIL BURNER SYSTEM Filed June 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug.25, 1925.

' F. STREICH ET AL OIL BURNER SYSTEM 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 flaw/77160719Filed June 28. 1924 l I l l I l l l 2 L W W e e Aug. 25, 1925. 1,551,519

F. STREICH ET AL OIL BURNER SYSTEM Filed June 28, 1924 7 Snags-sheet 7Eli/@77 290725; flank Zrezc7z Patented 25, 1925.

UNITED STAT EBA-I1 OIL BURNER CORPORATION,

' mrix--srnnrciisannrsun 1B. s'rnnrcn,

OF JULIET, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOBS 'I'O GEN- J'OLIE'I, ILLINOIS, ACORPORATION OF ILLI- OIL-BURNE'B. SYSTEM.

Application filed June as, 1924. Serial No. 722307.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, FRANK STRnrcHand ,PAULB. STR'EIGH, both citizens of the United States, and residents of Joliet, Will County, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Oil-Burner Systems, of which the following isvdeclared to be a full, clear, and exact description.

1 This invention relates to oil burner sys tems and. among its objectsare; to increase the efliciency of oil burners and to eliminate almostall, if not all, of the objectionable features now common in oil burners stems.

Another object is to eliminate the co lection of carbon deposits on theburner; another ob- 'ectis to prevent the oil from flooding the asementof other enclosure 'in which the burner of the system is contained, suchflooding usuall being occasioned by the escape of unlit 011 from theburner. Another ohjectis to provide an air blast for aton'lizing theliquid fuel and for creatin suction for feeding the liquid fuel to theurner. An-

other object is to provide a system in which a small quantity of theliquid. fuel is constantly kept at a predetermined level and fed forstopping the compressor in case the fuel escapes from' the burnerwithoutbeing lit.

Anotherobject is to provide an automatic alarm which sounds in case thefuel escapes from the burner without being lit. A other object is-toprovide an auxiliarv tan for storing a quantity' -of liquid fuel and afuel reservoir for containing a constant but small uantity ,of'oil and"from. which the oil is eddirectly tothe burner, in combination three.wa"i et:.valve mechanism located in the auxi 'ary tank and connected witha main fuel tank and with the pump and ar ranged to'establishcommunication between the ,pump and main fuel tank when the fuel in, theauxiliary tank falls below a predetermined level and to shut ollcommunication' between the main fueltank and pump and establishcommunication between the suppl of fuelin the auxiliary -supply tank andt e pump when the level in said auxiliary supply tank reaches apredetermined level, whereby one pump only may be used for supplyingfuel to the auxiliarysupply tank and. to the reservoir. Another objectis .to obtain an even distribution of the flame from the centre of thefire pot. Another object is to prevent the escape of oil. or other.liquid fuel except when atomized and ignited. I

Other objects and advantages will occur in the course ofthe followinspecification and with all of the said ob ects and advantages in viewthis invention consists in the several novel features of construction,arrangement and combination of parts, hereinafter fully described andclaimed.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompany ng drawings, inwhich f Fig. 1 is. a ront elevation of an oil burner system embodyingthe preferred form of the present invention and showing its applicationto a furnace; Fig. 2 is a View partly in plan and part] in horizontalsection,-of the I parts seen in ig. 1,. the line of section bengindicated at 2- 2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a -vertical cross sect-ion. takenon the line 3--3'of Fig. 1; Fi 4 is a detail, vertical I cross'seetionof tlfe. urner and burner tube 'takenon the line 44 of Fig.v 3; Fig. 5is a detail, vertical, lon 'tudinal section of the burner taken on theinc 55 5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a detail plan of a unit comprising theliquid fuel and air pumping apparatus ;which forms part of theinvention; Fig. 7 i is a detail, vertical section taken on the line 7--7of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a detail, vertical section taken on the line 8-'-8..of Fi 6;. Fig. 9 is a detail, vertical section 0 the floatcontrolled. three way inlet valve shown in Fig. 8, the line ofsectio'n'being indicated at 99 in Fig. 8'; Fig. 10 is a detail verticalsection taken'on. the line 10-10pf Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a plan ofa certainswitch mechanism for stopping the motor which drives the air compressorand oil ump; Fig. .12 is a detail, vertical section ta en on the line12-12 of Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a detail, vertical section taken on theline 1%13 of Fig. 11; Fig 14: is a diagrammatic view of the motorcontrol circuit and, a certain bell ringing circuit; Fig. 15 is adetail, vertical preferred embodiment of the invention, the

reference character 20, (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3) designatesa furnace ofordinary and well known construction containing a combustion chamber 21and having the usual fire pot 22. Any form of furnace-or heating plantmay be employed in connectionwith' the present oil burner system.Located in the combustion chamber of the furnace and extending outthrough the fire door 23 of the furnace is a burner tube 24 which has anopening 25 in its bottom wall at a point adjacent its inner end andpreferably located axially or centrally of the combustion chamber. Abovesaid opening 25 is an oil burner 26, of the atomizer type, which, in itspreferred form, comprises a burner body 27 (see Figs. 5 and 6) formedwith a downwardly and outwardly flaring mouth 28 and having a downwardlydirected compressed air discharge tip 29, and a horizontal oil dischargetip 30. The air discharge tip is centrally disposed over the mouth 28and the terminal end of the oil discharge tip 30 is preferably locatedin line with the axis of said air discharge tip. The tips are disposedat right angles 'to each other as shown,

. and in the operation of the system act to atand omize the oil anddirect the spray in a down-- ward direction. The tips may be madeseparate from the body 27 and secured therein by threaded connections.Connected with the compressed air tip 29 is a compressed air pipe31 andconnected with the oil discharge tip 30 is an oil supply pipe 32, bothof which lead through the hollow of the burner tube 24 and out through aplate 33 which is secured upon the open outer end of the burner tube.The compressed air pipe 31 leads from a compressed air tank 34 (seeFigs. 1, 2, 6, 7 and 8) and the oil supply pipe 32 eads from an oilreservoir 35, which tank and reservoir comprise parts of the operatmgunit which controls the supply of compressed air and oil to the burner.

'A pilot light is used for igniting the fire 1n accordance with one formof the invention, the pilot light is supplied by a gas pipe which leadsas usual from one of the gas pipes of the building. The gas pipe 75leads into the furnace below the burner tube 24 and terminates below andat one side of the burner 26.

The operating unit, in its preferred form,

is secured, an outlet port-54,

comprises a base 36 which is in the form V of an auxiliary oil tankcovered by the drip pan-37 having a bottom that slopes downward towardsthe middle of the top of the tank, where it is formed with an aperture38 through which any oil-drippings may reenter the auxiliary oil tank36. Above the auxiliary oil tank 36 is a base plate 39 which is mountedupon posts 40, (see Fig. 8) that are-threadedly secured in the cover 37for the purposes of adjustment, and coiled compression springs 40 areinterposed between the base plate 39 and posts 40 to take up vibrationand eliminate objectionable noise. Thecompressed air tank 34 andoilreservoir 35 are mounted upon the base plate 39 and are bolted orsecured thereto or in any other suitable manner.

Mounted on the base plate 39 adjacent.

the compressed air tank 34 is an air compre'ssor 41 (see Figs. 6 and 7)which has a discharge pipe 42 that leads into the com pressed air tank34, and, as a preference, has a downwardly inclined discharge end 43.The air intake for the'compressor is seen at 44. For the purpose oflubricating the air comprwsor 41, the compressed air tank 34 contains'aquantity of lubricating oil and an oil fed pipe 45 is submerged inthelubrieating oil and leads from said tank to the.

inlet side of the aircompressor, where it is provided with a valve 46.The arrangement is such that when the valve 46 is opened, the aircompressor draws in lubrieating oil which lubricates the parts of theair compressor and is discharged back into the compressed air tank 34.The compressed air pipe 31 is shown as entering the top of thecompressed air tank in Figs. 6 and 7.

Mounted on the base plate 39 adjacent the oil reservoir 35 is an oilpump 47 (see Figs. 6 and 8) which has a discharge pine 48 thatdischarges into the upper end of t e oil reservoir 35. The inlet or oilsupply pipe 49 of the oil pump 47 leads down into the auxiliary oil tank36 and its lower end is connected to a float controlled, three way inletvalve 50; said ,valve 50 is also connected to an oil supply pipe 51which leads from a main oil supply tank shown at T which may be locatedoutside of the building in which the furnace is contained. The purposeof the float controlled, three way inlet valve 50 is to enable only onepump 47 to be used. for the'purpose of replenishing the supply of oil inthe auxiliary oil tank 36 and for supplying the oil reservoir 35 withoil. The construction of the valve 50 will nowbe dc scribed.

Referring now to Figs. 8, 9 and 10 the valve casing 52 of the valve 50is preferably Lil cylindrical in form and has an inlet port 53 v inwhich the end of the oil supply pipe 51 1n whichthe oil supply pipe 49is secured and an inlet port 55 through which oil may enter; the

. valve from the tank 36. Rotatively mountstem 60 which valve casing andissecured to an arm 61 of and pumps oil (therefrom directly ed in thevalve casing 52 is 'a hollow valve body 56 which 'isformed with inletports 57, 58 and an outlet port '59. The arrangement of the ports issuch that at a certain position of thevalve body 56 the ports 57, 53 maregister, while the ports '58, 55 are out register and vice versa,;while the ports 59, 54 are always in registerrx. In a 'certain positionof the valve body the ports 57, 53 and 58, 55 may partly r ister (seeFig. The valve bod" 56 as a projects out t rough the a float 62. In theoperation of this float controlled,-three' wayinlet valve, when thei 1oil reservoir 35. When the level of the oil in the tank 36 rises to ahigh point, the float is raised, thereby moving thevalve body 56't0 aposition where the ports 57, 53 are out of re 'ster and the ports 58, 55are in register, t e result being that communication between the mainsupply and-the pump 47 is I shut ofl:' and the pump 47 pumps oildirectly from the auxiliaryoil supply tank 36 and into theoil reservoir35.

In'order to obtain the beneficial that we have with this system, atermined, com aratively small uantity of oil is constant y maintained issufficient to maintain the desired quantity tive of the amount that isused in the or head ofoil in said oil reservoir, an overflow opening63is provided in one wall of the reservoir-35 which overflow plpening 63opens into a chamber 65 of the o' reservoir structure, from the bottom'of which leads an overflow pipe-66 that enters the auxiliaryoil tank 36-through its cover or'did 37. It

is obvious that in caseimoreoil enters the oil. reservoir 35 than isused by' theburner, the surplus ove'rflows'through the overflow o ning63 into the chamber 65 and disc rges into the auxiliary oiltank 36 b wayofthe overflow pipe 66. The oil supp y apparatus just described providessimple-and eflicient means whereb a su ply of oil is always maintainedin t e aux laly oil tank, and a constant, relatively small quantity ofoil is maintained inthe oil reservoir, lrrespective of the quantity ofthe oil used by results" predee oil 'res-. ervoir 35. The capacity ofthe oil pump'l urner, 1 and in order'tomaintainthe desired level" theburner, I Furthermore, only one oil pump is necessary for the tank 36and reservoir 35.

For the purpose of distributing the flame evenly towards the sides ofthe fire pot, a horizontal baflie plate 70 ,(see'Fig. 3) is providedbelow the burner. Said plate is mounted on a stand 71 havin feet 72 inwhich are adjustment screws %3 that rest on the bottomvof the furnace.By roperly setting u thescrew's 73 the bafile plate may be broug tv to ato the-burner. Extending u a curved "shiel proper height with respectfrom the baliie plate 70is 74, which forms a support for the inner endof the burner tube 24, and

also directs a portion of the aseousmixture upwards and across the;p11ot'light jet thereby insuring the immediate ignition of the fuel whenit issues from the burner. I

Conveniently, an electric motor 67 is employed fordriving theaircompressor and.

oil pump. The motor is' mounted on the base 39 and connected to the aircompressori-and-oil -pump, by a belt 68 trained around pulleys 69,,69*"011 the motor shaft and air compressor shaft, the latter shaft beingconveniently connected to the oil pump shaft by a shaft coupling.Usually the circuit to. the motor is controlled 'by a thermostat,whereby the operating unit 0perates -when' the temperature in the placeheated, falls below a predetermined temperature and ceases to operatewhen the temperature rises above the predetermined point. As soon as theelectric current is shut oil, the motor sto s, and therewith the aircompressor and oi pumpstops,'th e air pressure in the compressed" airtank and compressed air pi d'ro s to atmospheric pressure, andthe ow 0oil to the burner ceases. When the motor is again started the pressure"in the compressed air'tank and compressed airpipe is restored and theoil automatically stopping the motor in such cases, and forsimultaneously sounding an alarm will now be described.

' At the edge of the baflle plate 70 is a utter 76 (see Fi 3) into whichunburne oil flows, and lea ing away from saidgutter is 4 a post 84,mounted on the stand 81 between 83 is connected to the lever 82 by alink 86.

the two switches 7 9,80 and it-has two arms 85, one 9f which isconnected to the motor circuit switch 79 and one to the-bell circuitswitch 80. Each arm 85 is connected to the blade of-a switch 79 or 80(which switches are knife switches) bya link 85. The cup The arrangementof the automatic switch mechanism is such that, normally, the motorcircuit is closed and the bell circuit is open. When unlit oil escapes.from the burner, un-

' der the influence of the atomizing action of the air jet, the oilflows out through the overflow pipe 77 and discharges into the cup 83.As soon as the weight of the oil therein overbalances the counterbalanceof the lever 82, the lever is swung down by the filled or partly filledcup, the motor circuit switch 79 is opened, thereby shutting off thepassage through the overflow current to the motor and the switch 80 ofbell ringing circuit is closed, thereby warning the occupants of thebuilding that the pilot. light, has become extinguished and that theoperating unit has ceased to function. After the pilot light has beenlit the cup 83 is emptied and the counterweighted lever 82 is therebyrestoredto normal position, the motor circuit closed and bell ringingcircuit is broken.

In the alternate form of igniting means, shown in Figs. 15, 16, 17 aspark plug device 90 is provided at the end of the burner tube 24 andthe wires therefor are enclosed in heat insulating conduits and lead outthrough the front end of the burner tube.

A current of. electricity is passed through the terminals of the sparkplugs for a short interval of time whenever the motor is started and thecurrent is automatically shut ofi at the end of such interval of time. Asimple means for accomplishing this result, comprises an electric switchmechanism 91 mounted on the top of the oil reservoir,

case 35*, and an overflow oil cup 92 .carried by a counterbalanced lever93 which operates the switch mechanism 91 by means sub stantiallysimilar to that already described in connection, with the automaticmotor stopping switch mechanisni. Leading from the reservoir 35 is anoverflow pipe 94 which discharges oil from the reservolr into the cup92, whenever the oil pump is'in operation. In the bottom of the oil cupis an escape orifice of less area than the area of the In the operationof this ai ernate form of ignition means, the counterbalanced lever.throwing the switch and breaking the spar holds the cup in elevatedposition,with the switch 91 closed. The spark plug circuit is operatedonly when the motor circuit is closed. Then the .motor circuit isclosed, the motor is started, and therewith the air compressor and oilpump. Oil overflows from the oil reservoir, through the overflow pipe 94and into the on 92, gradually filling the same or partially filling thesame until its weight overbalances the counterbalanced lever and swingsthe same down thereb plug circuit. Only a very short interval of time isrequired to fill the cup, and o erate the lever 93. The cup remains downmin the entire time that oil overflows throu the pipe 94; when the flowof oil ceases t e oil in the'cup drains out through the escape orificein the bottom of the cup, and the counterweight restores the lever andcup to .normal position and thereby closing the spark plug circuit,which circuit, however, rlemains inactive until the motor circuit is cosed.

The operation of the system is readily.

apparent. When the motor is at rest, the air compressorand oil pump areat rest. As soon as the motor circuit is closed the motor is started andtherewith the air compressor and oil pump. Air is compressed in thecompressed air tank and a blast or jet of air is discharged across theoil discharge tip of the burner, and oil is drawn-out of the oil supplyburner pipe, atomized and discharged downward in a spray, which is iited by the pilot li ht. Air is drawn t rough the burner tu which tendsto keep the tube, and the air and oil supply pipes cooljbesidessupplying air to the burner at the point of combustion, this air supplyalso tends to prevent ,carbonization of the burner tips. ally by thebaflie plate, causing an even distribution of the heat. As the oil iswithdrawn from the oil reservoir, the head of oil The flame is deflectedradi-.

is maintained therein by the pump, and the surplus oil overflows fromthe oil reservoir and reenters the auxiliary oil tank.

When the current is shut 01f from the motor, the latter and therewiththe air com;-

pressor and oil pump the air pressure stofp, falls, the oil ceases to owto the burner and the flame becomes extinguished until the motor isagain started. In case the motor is started with the pilot light out,

the oil, discharged by the burner, flows into the cup of the automaticswitch mechanism,

we desire it to be understood that in the, claims where the term oil isused it is intended to cover any other liquid fuel capable of being usedin the burner.

' disclosed herein.

More or less variation ofthe exactdetails .of construction is possiblewithout departing from the spirit of this invention; we

desire, therefore, not to limit-ourselves to:

H of an auxiliary oil tank, a main supply pipe auxiliary supply vtankto' said pump, and

therefor, an oil reservoir thereabove, having an overflow leading tosaid tank, an oil for pumping oil into said tank and into sai reservoirand having a suction pipeleading from said tank and a discharge pipeleading to said reservoir, and a float controlled three way inlet valveinterposed between the main supply pipe and suction pipe of the oilpump, and having an inlet submerged in the oil in said tank,- said valvebeing controlled by variation of the level of oil in the auxiliarysupply tank. a.

2. In oil burner systems,the combination of a main tank, an auxiliaryoil supply tank, an oil pump for-pumping oil from said main tank intosaid auxiliary supply tank, and for pumping oil from said auxiliarysupply tank, a pipe leading from said main tankto said auxiliary supplytank and from said a float controlled, three way inlet valve in:terposed in said pipe and having an inlet submerged in the oil in saidauxiliary supply.

tank, substantially as and for the purpose SBtfOl'th.' I

3. In oil burner systems, a suction pump, a main tank," an auxiliarysupply tank, a float controlled, three way inlet valve, having a casingcontaining an inlet port connected to said main supply tank. a secondinlet port opening in. body of liquid con tained in saidauxiliary supplytank and a discharge port. connected tosaid suction pump, and a movablefloat actuated valve member having inlet ports arra g d. to control the'inlet ports of the valve casing, and a discharge port constantlyuncovering the discharge port of the casing.

4. In oil burner systems, the combination of a compressed air pipe, anoil supply pipe, 8. burner tube through which said pipes extend, andarranged to extend horizontally into a furnace, said burner tube having.a discharge opening in its lower wall at its inner end, and anaspirating oil atomizing burner in said tube and connected to said pipesabove said opening. said burner hav mg discharge tips for the compressedair and the oil arranged at right anglesto each other, the compressedair tip being directed downwards.

5. In oil burner systems, the combination of a compressed air tank, acomprewed air pipe leading therefrom, an oil reservoir con 'wardly intosaid mouth, and an oil discharge tip extending into said mouth,=at rightangles to said air discharge tip, the discharge orifice of said oildischarge tip being locateds'lightly above the oil level in said oilreservoir and in line with the axis ofthe ajr dischar e ti and acircular bafile plate arranged'at rig t angles-to the air discharge tipand axially disposed withrespect thereto.

6. In-oil burner systems, an oil ump, a main oil tank, an auxiliary oilta anoil supply pipe leading from said main oil tank, through saidauxiliary oil tank and to theintake side of said oil pump, an oilreservoir' into which said oil pump discharges oil, 'an overflow fromsaid oil reservoir leadingto said auxiliary oil tank and a floatcontrolled three way inlet valve in said auxiliary oil tank interposedin said oil sup ly pipe, and having an inlet submerged in Elie oil insaid auxiliary oil tank.

. 7. In oil, burner systems, the combination of an oil reservoirh-aving'a-n overflow ipe, electric motor operatedv means for cedingliquid fuel to sand reservoir, a burner, means for feeding liquid fuelfrom said reservoir to said burner, a spark plug device adjacent saidburner for igniting the fuel, an electric switch for closing a circuitto the; spark plug, and switch actuating .mechanism for controlling saidspark plug circuit having an overflow oil cup into which said overflowpipe discharges the. 'overflow liquid fuel, said cup having a restrictedout et.

8..In oil burner systems, the combination of an oil reservoir having anoverflow pipe. electric vmotor opera-ted. meansifor feeding. liquid fuelto said reservoir, a. burner, means for feeding liquidfuel from saidreservoir to said burner, a spark plug device adjacent said burner forigniting thefuel, an electric switch for closing a circuit to the sparklug, a counterbalanced switch actuating ever,'and an overflow oil cupinto which said overflow pipe discharges the overflow liquid fuel, saidcup having a restricted outlet for. the fuel. p

9. In an oil burner system, the combination of an oil reservoir having avertical partition therein dividing the same into two compartments,there being an oil inlet opening and an oil'discharge openin for one ofsaid compartments, and an ove ow openmg in said partition connectingsaid com artments, and there being an overflow oi discharge pipe leadingfrom said second named compartment, and an electric switch operatleadinging on in said second named compartment infow 'ch overflow oilis-discharged from said overflow opening, Substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

' '10. Inan oil burner system, the combination of an auxiliary oilsupply tank, a platform mounted thereon, an oil reservoir supported uponsaid platform and having a vertical partition dividing said reservoirinto two compartments, an oil pump mounted on said latform and having aninlet pipe om said auxilia oil supply tank and a discharge pipe discarging 1nto one of said compartments, there being an oil dischargeopening leading from said compartment and an overflow opening in saidpartition opening, into the other compartment, an overflow pipeleadingfrom said last men- .tioned compartment to said auxiliary oils'up 1y tank and a switch operating cup in sai last mentionedcompartment, into which overflow oil is discharged from said overflowopening in the partition.

FRANK STREIGH. PAUL B. STREICH.

